Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB?

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pingfloid
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2013/03/28 04:16:06 (permalink)

Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB?

Hi.
I am going to upgrade my laptop (see my other post: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2808207)  and I have to say goodbye to my RME Fireface 400 because there is no Firewire anymore. 
  
 I can not spend more money on the new Audio Interface than what I could get selling the FF400, so the RME UCX is out of the equation.  
     
 I know that the quality is inferior, but for $550, do you think that the MOTU Ultralite Mk3 Hybrid is a good option?
Any happy owners using Sonar X2 and the MOTU in USB mode?
     
Another (more expensive) consideration could be the Babyface, but I don’t like the bunch of cables and connectors on the back, I need RCA SPDIF (the Babyface is optical), and in the future I may need more inputs/outputs.
  
 edit:
 I forgot to mention that I am not a "Pro"; I am "too old for Rock´n´roll" and I just record guitars, vocals and VSTi´s for fun and friends. So I m not too concerned about ultra-fine quality, but rather concerned about performance (pops, craks, drops, compatibility issues...) and about the extinction of the FireWire.
post edited by pingfloid - 2013/03/28 05:08:05
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    DeeringAmps
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    Re:Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB? 2013/03/28 09:15:52 (permalink)
    A lot of guys are happy with their Roland interfaces.
    Might be worth a look.

    Tom

    Tom Deering
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    #2
    pingfloid
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    Re:Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB? 2013/03/28 09:36:17 (permalink)
    Hi DeeringAmps. Thank you for the suggestion.

    I've already taken the plunge and ordered the Motu Ultrailite Mk3 Hybrid on ebay. I will inform about the results once I test it for a while

    #3
    chuckebaby
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    Re:Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB? 2013/03/28 10:33:19 (permalink)
    I had a good friend of mine suggest firewire being the top quality in interfaces about a year ago.
    I had to stop and tell him they are being phased out and he couldn't believe me.
    im glad at least you realize this.

    I use the cakewalk v sudio its a control surface/soundcard it doesn't have midi cap. though, so for that I use a midisport uno usb to midi adapter.
    for rca connections I use adapters, because often I mix down older projects for the work I do.

    there are many good interfaces out there for under 300 even.
    because of the competition in soundcards lately prices have dropped dramatically.

    Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
    Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
    Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
       
    #4
    Living Room Rocker
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    Re:Bye bye to RME Firewire. Is it Wise to replace it for MOTU USB? 2013/03/31 02:21:49 (permalink)
    Which one is Ping,

    Don't dump your Fireface just yet and before you make your laptop purchase, consider getting one with Thunderbolt. I recently bought an ASUS G55VW with thunderbolt (http://rog.asus.com/notebook/15-inch/g55vw) and a Focusrite Saffire 24 Pro DSP, which is firewire. With an Apple firewire to thunderbolt adapter (http://store.apple.com/us...ire-adaptor?fnode=51), I can use my Saffire via the thunderbolt and it works flawlessly. Plus, the G55 has four USB 3 ports. There is also its big brother the G75VX (http://rog.asus.com/notebook/17-inch/g75vx), not to be confused with the G75VW which is older and inferior, that also has four USB 3 ports.  The G75 also has two HDD/SSD bays with an optical drive still in place, not to mention the capacity for 32 Gigs of RAM (yeah, overkill). 

    Well, I am happy with the smaller, very portable  G55 and the Saffire.  It's the coolest! 

    Kind regards,


    Living Room Rocker

    post edited by Living Room Rocker - 2013/03/31 02:43:35
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